COUNTY COUNCILLOR CALLS ON LEADER OF LINCOLNSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL TO INVESTIGATE THE 'UNITARY OPTION'

Following the publication today of a study from Ernst & Young into the feasibility of creating one to three Unitary Councils in Oxfordshire, North Hykeham Liberal Democrat County Councillor, John Marriott, has written to Lincolnshire County Council Leader, Martin Hill, about the possibility of the county doing something similar.

Cllr Marriott said:

" I know that the present government isn't prepared to consider any more major change; but there will be a new government after May and, given the parlous state of local government, particularly in England, it must surely give serious consideration to major reform of local government structure and finance. Otherwise, there will be precious little of local government left by the end of this decade. Major local government is entirely Unitary in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Why not in England?

" The Ernst & Young study has identified savings of up to £81m over five years if Oxfordshire were to have one Unitary Authority instead of the mixture of County and District Councils at present. Savings would be less if the two or three Unitary options were applied. Areas that have 'gone Unitary' in recent years, like Wiltshire, Northumberland and Cornwall, just to name three, have reported large savings by reducing senior staff and by reducing the complexity that the two tier system presents to the public. To give just one example, why should a District Council collect your refuse and the County Council get rid of it?

" Scrapping Counties and Districts doesn't mean scrapping Town and Parish Councils. I see many of them playing an even more important role with the chance to take on more powers if they so wish. Let's be honest, whilst many County Councils are struggling to balance the books there are some District Councils teetering on the verge of bankruptcy, although, thank goodness, not at the moment in Lincolnshire.

" I have written to Martin Hill because he has, in the past, expressed sympathy for the idea, as have all the groups on the County Council except Labour. Perhaps now they also might be open minded enough to give serious consideration to an idea, whose time may at last have come. "

You can contact Cllr Marriott on 01522 687965 or by email at john@fnarg.demon.co.uk